Stamp canceling machine



June 20, 1933 N. c. HEATON STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet June 20, 1933 N. c. HEATON 1,91

STAMP CANCELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 b 7 Lglllllllllllllii 2 a ill"! N r 7 I Patented June 20, 1933 warren s'ra'res P521 5125? OFFEQEI NATHAN C. HEATON, OF HAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IEONTGOMERY WARD & (30., INCORPORATED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS STAMP CANOE-LING IMAGI IINE Application filed December 23, 1929. Serial No. 415,934.

This invention relates to stamp canceling machines and it has among its objects the provision of a simple, cheap and efficient machine for canceling stamps either singly in strips, or in sheets.

The objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of an exemplification of the invention, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the cover plate of the driving mecha- 16 nism casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a top horizontal view of the machine with a part of the casing portions in section;

Fig.' 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the roller train; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the roller train of Fig. 4.

In the mail order house business it is a common custom for people to enclose postage stamps in payment for their merchandise ordered. The volume of stamps received in this way is very large, and it has been the usual practice to employ a number of clerks to collect, sort and count these stamps. It has been found best to dispose of these stamps by pre-canceling them under supervision of the local post office which is associated with the mail order house, and to use these pre-canceled stamps on the parcel post packages sent out by the house. Since these stamps come in different denominations and in different quantities, sometimes in the form of sheets, sometimes in the form of strips, and sometimes in the form of single stamps, it was heretofore not thought possible, as far as I am aware, of devising a simple machine that could serve for pre-canceling such stamps in a way that would render them intact for further use, and the practice followed heretofore was to employ clerks for pre-canceling these stamps by a rubber hand stamp. This work was very tedious, messy, and hard to supervise. The fact that these stamps are received in units of varying de- 59 nominations aggravated the situation and made the work costly. The invention avoids the difficulties by providing a simple and etlicient machine which is capable of precanceling stamps in a very definite way as required by the post ofiice regulations, no matter whether the stamps come in single units, in strips, or in sheets.

As shown in the drawings, the machine comprises a frame formed of two cast frame sides 1, 2 that are held together by a bottom plate 3 and a top plate 4 which forms the feed table or platform. The left hand frame side 1 is provided with an upright eX- tension 5 and the right hand frame side 2 is provided at its outer side with a flange extension 6 on which is mounted a hollow cover plate 7 constituting in conjunction therewith an enclosed chamber in which is housed the driving mechanism 8 of themachine. At the rear end of the feed table 4 there is mounted transversely across the frame a printing roller 11 which has at its two end shaft extensions journaled in the upright 5 and frame side 2, respectively. A platen roller 12 is similarly journaled directy below the printing roller 11 and an inking roller 13 is similarly journaled directly above the printing roller. A bracing strip 14 serves to stiffen the upper end of the frame work.

A small electric motor 15 is mounted on the bottom plate 3 of the frame work and is arranged to be energized through a conduit 16 by means of a switch 17 that may be closed or opened by a button 18 extending outwardly from the side frame member 1. The motor has a shaft extension 20 projecting into the interior of the chamber 21 formed on the right hand frame side 2 and is in frictional engagement with the outer periphery of a driving wheel 22 which is journaled on a hub member 23 carried on an arm 24 that is loosely mounted on a shaft extension 25 of the printing roller 11 projecting into the chamber 21. The driving wheel 22 carries on its back side a driving pulley 26 which is con nected through a belt 27 with a driven pulley 28 that is likewise loosely mounted on the shaft extension 25 of the printing roller. The driven pulley 28 has a circular rim which is provided at its interior with four notches 29 adapted to cooperate with a coupling pin 30 extending from a coupling member 31 that is pivotally mounted at 32 on a bracket 33 which is secured to the right-hand end of the shaft 25 of the printing roller 11. The coupling pin 30 and the notches 29 form a one revolution clutch and are normally held out of engagement, against the action of the spring 35, by means of a catch 36 held upon a coupling arm 37 that is pivoted at 38 on a pin extending from the frame side 2. The coupling arm 37 has a slot 39 with which is engaged a pin 40 carried by a swinging arm 41 mounted on a pin 42 extending through the frame side 2 and fastened at its other side to one side of a yoke member 43 forming a touch bar 'pivotally mounted between the frame sides 1 and 2 in front of the printing roller. A spring 44 within the housing 21 tends to swing the arm 41 in upward direction thereby forcing the lever 37 through the engagement with the pin 40 to the position shown in the drawings, in which position the catch 36 engages the clutch release member 31 holding the coupling pin 30 out of engagement with the notches of the pulley 28. By momentarily lifting the touch bar the catch 36 frees the clutch releasing member 31 whereupon the pin 30 falls into the next notch 29 of the pulley 28 in the course of rotation of the latter. An engagement is thereupon established between the shaft 25 and the pulley 28 and the shaft with the printing roller 11 is rotated for a full revolution until the projecting member 31 again comes into the path of the catch 36 whereupon the coupllng pin 30 is pulled out of engagement with the pulley 28 and the movement of the printing roller ceases.

A sheet metal chute 51 is mounted between the frame sides in the rear of the printing roller to catch the dropping out imprinted stamps. A guide rail 52 is mounted on the feed table 4.- in front of the printing roller so as to guide the stamps in proper relation to the printing roller. The printing roller is formed of a roll of metal such as brass having mounted on its periphery die strips 54 which are preferably made of rubber and may carry several inscriptions that are to be printed on the stamps, such as Chicago, Ill. The die is preferably so formed that on both sides of the words that are to be imprinted there are provided strips 55 for imprinting on the stamps border lines extending across the stamps. The die strips 54 are so mounted on the printing roller that when the clutch is out of engagement with the driving wheel 28 and the printing roller shaft is held in po sition by the catch 36, the rear end 56 of the die strip forms a stop for the forward end of a stamp 57 thatis to be canceled as illustrated in Fig. 4. This may be conveniently arranged by making the die strip 54 of somewhat less length than the periphery of the printing roller so as to leave a small break 58 between the front end and rear end of the die strip to permit inserting the stamp that is to be imprinted between the printing roller 11 and the platen roller 12 until it hits the stop 56 and is ready for printing.

The guide rail 52 facilitates the proper positioning of the stamps so that the matter imprinted thereon receives the impression in proper direction as required by the post ofiice regulations. 1

The ink roller may be made in the form of a roll of metal having its periphery covered with felt or similar substance adapted to be impregnated with the ink and adapted to transfer the ink upon the printing roller 11 when the same is rotated in contact therewith. The ink roller. has no positive drive but is driven merely through its frictional engagement with the printing roller 11. The platen roller 12 is formed of any suitable material, for instance of brass, and is provided with raised circular platen strips 61, 62 corresponding to the several lines that are to be imprinted by the die strip of the printing roller. In the usual operation of the machine only one or two of the die strips may come into printing operation, the other die strips merely rotating and coming in contact with the strips 61, i 62, of the platen roller and depositing ink thereon. Through the provision of the peripheral gaps 63 between the individual platen strips 61, 62 excessive accumulation of ink is prevented, as otherwise the ink tends to collect and spread over the entire surface of the platen so that upon subsequent printings the gummed back of the stamps become entirely covered with ink and rendered difiicult for further handling. By making the gaps 63 on the platen this is prevented and the backs of the stamps are only partially imprinted leaving suflieient non-imprinted surface so as to secure full effectiveness of the mucilage coating on the stamp backs.

The platen roller 12 is, like the inking roller 13, driven through its frictional engagement with the printing roller 11.

As seen in the drawings, the printing roller is made relatively wide so that several printing strips 54 are mounted side by side permitting simultaneous imprinting of several rows of stamps. In the exemplification shown in the drawings, the printing roller'is arranged to provide for simultaneous imprinting of five stamps and the diameter of the printing roller is made sufficiently large that the length of each die strip corresponds to five stamps so that in single revolution of the printing roller five stamps will be imprinted by each die strip.

In order to operate the machine, the motor 15 is energized to rotate the driving wheel 22 and the'loosely mounted pulley 28. The

. performing printing roller is held in the position shown in Fig. 4, the coupling release member 31 being held by the catch 36 in the position shown in Fig; 2. The operator has the stamps ready on the feed table 4. Each strip, or sheet, or individual stamp that is to be imprinted is placed by the operator against the guide rails 52 and then shoved forward until it hits the stopping edge 56 of the printing roller die strip. Thereupon the operator lifts the touch bar 43 thereby releasing the clutch release member 31. This causes the coupling pin 30 to fall within the next notch 29 of the pulley 28, thereby establishing the driving engagement with the shaft 25 of the printing roller and bringing the latter into rotation. The rotating printing roller 11 seizes the stamp lying between it and the platen roller 12 and feeds it forward at the same time imprinting on the front side of the stamp the legend which apears on the die strips of the printing roller. If the stamp strip is long, the touch bar may continuously be held up and the impressions may be continuously repeated until the entire sheet or strip has been imprinted. If only one or two stamps are to be imprinted, the touch bar may be immediately released after starting the printing roller and the printing roller will automatically stop after a single revolution with its stopping edge 56 in the position shown in Fig. i, ready to receive the next strip or sheet of stamps. The imprinted stamps are ejected through the rear of the machine on the chute 51 and may be collected there.

The machine described above is extremely simple and handy in operation and capable of the otherwise tedious work quickly and without strain on the operator.

The invention is not restricted to the particular details of construction shown in the drawings, but many other modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad construction commensurate'with the scope of the invention.

I claim: 7

1. In a printing device of the character described, a frame, a printing roller journaled on the opposite sides of said frame, a die strip extending over the periphery of said roller and forming a break at one point of said periphery to constitute a stop for matt'er fed against said roller to be imprinted thereby, a platen roller journaled between opposite sides of said frame substantially in contact with the said printing roller, a feeding platform disposed in front of the junction between said printing roller and said platen roller for feeding matter to be imprinted against said printing roller, the break on the periphery of said printing roller being so arranged that when said break is at the point of junction with said platen roller, matter to be imprinted fed against the junction will be stopped by the stopping edge of said die strip, a driving motor on said frame, and a driving coupling connection between said motor and said printing roller so arranged that upon coupli said printing roller to said motor said printing roller will be rotated from the initial position to cause sheet-s held on the feeding platform in front of the stopping edge of said printing roller to be fed through its junction with said platen roller and to be imprinted thereby, said driving coupling connection being so arranged that, on uncoupling, said printing roller will be stopped in its initial position with the stopping edge of its die strip at the junction with the platen roller in front of the feeding platform.

2. In a printing device of the character described, a frame, a printing roller journaled on the opposite sides of said frame, a die strip extending over the periphery of said roller and forming a break at one point of said periphery to constitute a stop for matter fed against said roller to be imprinted thereby, a platen roller journaled between opposite sides of said frame substantially in contact with the said printing roller, feeding platform disposed in front of the junction between said printing roller and said platen roller for feeding matter to be imprinted against said printing roller, the break on the periphery of said print roller being so arranged that, when said hi is at the point of junction with said platen roller, matter to be imprinted fed aga'nst the junction will be stopped by the stopping edge of said die strip, a driving motor on said frame, a driving coupling connection between said motor and said printing roller so arranged that upon couplinr said printing roller to said motor said printing roller will be rotated from the initial position to cause sheets held on the feeding platfo 'm in front of the stopping edge of said printing roller to be fed through its junction with said platen roller and to be imprinted thereby, said driving coupling connection being so arranged that on uncoupling said printing roller will be stopped in initial position with the stopping edge of its die strip at the junction with the platen roller in front of the feeding platform, and a touch bar movably mounted in front of the printing roller for actuating said driving coupling connection.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying int to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a clutch member ii movable with respect to the printing roll and operated by said driving means, a supper mounted for rotation with said printing roll,

means for eiiecting engagement between said freely movable clutch member and said mounting for periodically actuating said printing roll, and means for releasing said engaging means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

a. In a machine of the class described, the comb nation wi h a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a clutch member freely rotatable with respect to said printing roll and actuated by said driving means, a support fixedly connected to said printing roll, a locking device pivotally carried by said support and adapted for engagement with said clutch member to interengage the latter and said support, and a manually controlled connection operatively related to said locking device to effect periodical engagement be tween said support and said clutch member and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a clutch member freely rotatable with respect to said printing roll ant actuated by said driving means, a support fixedly connected to said printing roll, a locking device pivotally carried by said support and adapted for engagement with said clutch member to interengage the latter and said support, and an actuating device arranged in proXimitiy to said printing roll for actuation by the operator of the machine for effecting periodical starting of the latter, said actuating device being related to said locking device to effect interengagement of the locking device with the clutch member and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

6. In a printing machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, and a platen roll, of a die strip carried by the printing roll, said printing roll having an initial starting position, said die strip having its ends separated to form a gap positioned at a point on the printing roll to correspond to the starting position of the latter,

one end of said die strip forming a stop against which matter to be imprinted may be fed and positioned between the printing and platen rolls to be gripped thereby when the printin roll moves from its initial starting position, and means for actuating the printing roll.

7 In a printing machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, and a platen roll, of a die strip carried by the printing roll, said printing roll having an initial starting position, said die strip having its ends separated to form a gap positioned at a point on the printing roll to correspond to the starting position of the latter, one end of said die strip forming a stop against which matter to be imprinted may be fed and positioned between the printing and platen rolls to be gripped thereby when the printing roll moves from initial starting position, a driving motor, a driving coupling connection between said motor and said printing roll and so arranged that upon coupling said printing roll to said motorsaid printing roll will be rotated from the initial position to cause matter presented between the printing and platen rolls to pass therebetween and to be imprinted thereby, said driving coupling connection being so arranged that,.on uncoupling, said printing roll will be stopped in its initial position with the stop of the die strip presented for contact by the material to be imprinted at the next operation of the printing roll.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, a bracket mounted for rotation with said printing roll, means carried by said bracket and movable into and out of engagement with said pulley for actuating pe iodically said printing roll, and manually operated means for releasing said engaging means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said drivingmeans, a'bracket mounted for rotation with said printing roll, a coupling member pivotally connected to said bracket and movable into and out of engagement with said pulley for actuating periodically said printing roll, and means for releasing said coupling member and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, a bracket mountedfor rotation with said printing roll, a coupling member pivotally connected to said bracket and movable into and out of engagement with said pulley for actuating periodically said printin roll, means movable into the path of movement of said coupling member for engagement with the latter to release the same from engagement with the pulley to release the printing roll from the pulley, and means for actuating said releasing means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, said pulley being provided in its rim with a locking notch,

a coupling member pivotally connected to the shaft of the printing roll and provided with a pin adapted to engage said notch to operatively connect the printing roll with .said pulley,means for engaging said coupling member to release the pin from engagement with the notch of the pulley to release the printing roll from the pulley, and manually operated means for actuating said releasing means and allowing any desired period of operation of the printing roll.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, said pulley being provided in its rim with a locking notch, a

, coupling member pivotally connected to the shaft of the printing roll and provided with a pin adapted to engage said notch to operatively connect the printing roll with said pulley, a releasing member pivotally mounted adjacent to said pulley and movable into the path of movement of the coupling member for engagement with the latter to rel-ease said pin from engagement with the notch of the pulley to release the printing roll from the pulley, and means for operating said releasing member and allowing any desired period of operation of the printing roll.

13. Ina machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, said pulley being provided in its rim'with a locking notch, a

, ment with the notch of the pulley, and manually operated means for operating said releasing member and allowing any desired period of operation of the printing roll.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing roll, a platen therefor, and means for supplying ink to the printing roll, of driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll and operated by said driving means, said pulley being provided in its rim with a plurality of locking notches, a coupling member pivotally connected to the shaft of the printing roll and provided with a pin adapted to engage one of said notches to operatively connect the printing roll with said pulley, a spring-controlled releasing member pivotally mounted adjacent to said pulley and including a catch adapted to be moved into the path of movement of the couping member for engagement with the latter to release said pin from engagement with the notch of the pulley and means for operating said releasing member and allowing any desired period of operation of the printing roll.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a printing roll journalled therein, having a predetermined starting position, a platen therefor, of a die strip carried by the printing roll having its ends separated to form a gap corresponding to the starting position of the roll, one end of said die strip forming a stop against which matter to be imprinted may be fed and positioned, means for supplying ink to the printing roll, a feeding platform carried by the frame with one end thereof adjacent the gap formed in the die strip by its separated end, driving means for actuating the printing roll, a casing arranged at one side of said frame and into which the shaft of said printing roll projects, driving means for actuating the printing roll, a clutch member carried by the shaft of said printing roll within said casing and freely movable on said shaft, operating connections between said driving means and said clutch member, means for engaging said clutch member with said shaft for periodically actuating said printing roll, and means for releasing said engaging means and allowing any desired period of operation of the printing roll.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a. frame, of a printing roll journalled therein, a platen therefor,means for supplying ink to the printing roll, a feed ing platform carried by the frame, driving means for actuating the printing roll, a casing arranged at one side of said frame and into which the shaft of said printing roll projects, driving means for actuating the printing roll, a pulley loosely mounted on the shaft of the printing roll within said casing and operated by said driving means, a

coupling member pivotally connected to said shaft and movable into and outof engagement with said pulley for actuating periodically said printing roll, means within said casing movable into the patli of movement of said coupling member for engagement with the latter to release the same from engagement with the pulley to release the printing roll from the pulley, and means for actuating said releasing means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a printing roll journalled therein, a platen therefor, means for supplying ink to the printing roll, a feeding platform carried by the frame, a motor carried by the frame, a casing arranged at one side of said frame and into which the shafts of the printing roll and the motor project, driving means within said casing actuated by the shaft of said motor, a clutch member carried by the shaft of said printing roll within said casing and freely movable on said shaft, operating connections between said driving means and said clutch member, means for engaging said clutch member with said shaft for periodically actuating said printing roll, and means for releasing said engaging means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a printing roll journalled therein, having a predetermined starting position, a platen therefor, of a die strip carried by the printing roll having its ends separated to form a gap corresponding to the starting position of the roll, one end of said die strip forming a stop against which matter to be imprinted may be fed and positioned, means for supplying ink to the printing roll, a feeding platform carried by the frame with one end thereof adjacent the gap formed in the die strip by its separated ends, a motor carried by the frame, a casing arranged at one side of said frame and into which the shafts of the printing roll and the motor project, driving means within said casing actuated by the shaft of said motor, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, operating connections between said driving means and said pulley, means for engaging said pulley with said shaft for periodically actuating said printing roll, and'means for releasing said engaging means and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a printing roll journalled therein, a platen therefor, means a for supplying ink to the printing roll, a feeding platform carried by the frame, a motor carried by the frame, a casing arrangedat one side of said frame and into which the shafts of the printing roll and the motor project, driving means within said casing actuated by the shaft of said motor, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, operating connections between said driving means and said pulley, a coupling member pivotally connected to said shaft and movable into and out of engagement with said pulle for actuating periodically said printing ro l,aspringcontrolled releasing member pivotally mount edadjacent to said pulley and movable into the path of movement of the coupling member for engagement with said pulley to release the printing roll from the pulley, and a manually-controlled device at the exterior of said casing operatively connected to said releasing member for actuating the latter, and controlling the actuation of the printing roll to permit any desired period of operation.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

NATHAN G. HEATON. 

